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100 Great Food Facts You Probably Did Not Know!

100 Great Food Facts You Probably Did Not Know!

ASPARAGUS
. Asparagus is high in glutathione, an important anticarcinogen
. It also contains rutin, which protects small blood vessels from
rupturing and may protect against radiation
. Asparagus is a good source of vitamins A, C and E, B-complex
vitamins, potassium and zinc

AVOCADO
. Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fat, which is easily burned for
energy.
. An avocado has more than twice as much potassium as a banana.
. For a delicious, creamy salad dressing, mix together avocado and
fresh carrot juice.

BANANAS
. You don't need to eat bananas for the potassium! (Although it is
present in bananas, potassium is the predominant nutrient among most
all fruits and vegetables.)
. Bananas are high in sugar, so they should not be eaten if you have
blood sugar problems.
. Don't eat bananas on an empty stomach; combining them with a bit of
protein will help to normalize the insulin response caused by the sugar
in the banana.
. Green-tipped bananas are better for your health than over-ripe
bananas.
. On a side note: Because bananas are so popular, rainforests are often
destroyed to make way for banana plantations.

BEET GREENS/ROOT
. Beet greens contain notable amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium and
phosphorus
. They also contain vitamins A, B-complex and C
. Beet roots are high in carbohydrate levels and should therefore be
used sparingly

BROCCOLI
. Broccoli contains twice the vitamin C of an orange
. It has almost as much calcium as whole milk--and the calcium is
better absorbed
. It contains selenium, a mineral that has been found to have
anti-cancer and anti-viral properties
. Broccoli is a modest source of vitamin A and alpha-tocopherol vitamin
E
. It also has antioxidant properties

CELERY
. Celery is the best vegetable source of naturally occurring sodium.
. It is high in potassium.
. The high water content in celery makes it ideal for vegetable
juicing.
. As an easy way to reduce grains in your diet, spread peanut butter on
celery rather than bread.

CILANTRO
. Cilantro may be useful to treat urinary tract infections
. Both the leaves and seeds aid digestion, relieve intestinal gas, pain
and distention
. They also treat nausea, soothe inflammation, rheumatic pain,
headaches, coughs and mental stress
. Cilantro is a member of the carrot family

CHICORY
. Chicory contains inulin, which helps diabetics regulate their blood
sugar levels
. Chicory is closely related to lettuce and dandelion but is a member
of the sunflower family
. It may be cleansing to the liver and gallbladder
. Chicory is beneficial for digestion, the circulatory system and the
blood
. Chicory leaves are a good source of calcium, vitamin A and potassium

CHINESE CABBAGE
. Chinese cabbage has anti-inflammatory properties
. It is an excellent source of folic acid
. Chinese cabbage is low in calories and low in sodium
. It is also high in vitamin A and a good source of potassium

DANDELION GREENS
. Dandelion is beneficial to digestion and is an antiviral that may be
useful in the treatment of AIDS and herpes
. It may also be useful in treating jaundice, cirrhosis, edema due to
high blood pressure, gout, eczema and acne
. Dandelion is also used to treat and prevent breast and lung tumors
and premenstrual bloating
. Dandelion greens are high in vitamin A in the form of antioxidant
carotenoid and vitamin C
. They also contain calcium and potassium
. Dandelion root contains inulin, which lowers blood sugar in diabetics

FENNEL
. Fennel contains the antioxidant flavonoid quercetin
. This herb is anticarcinogenic and can be useful for cancer patients
undergoing chemotherapy or radiation
. Fennel can be useful for indigestion and spasms of the digestive
tract
. It also helps expel phlegm from the lungs

GREEN BEANS
. Fresh beans contain vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, calcium and
potassium
. Green beans are diuretic and may be used to treat diabetes
. A fresh bean should snap crisply and feels velvety to the touch

JICAMA
. Jicama is low in sodium and high in potassium
. It has a slightly sweet flesh that's on the order of water chestnuts,
but crunchier
. Due to their high carbohydrate content, they should be used sparingly

KALE
. Kale eases lung congestion and is beneficial to the stomach, liver
and immune system
. It contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect the eyes from
macular degeneration
. It also contains indole-3-carbinol, which may protect against colon
cancer
. Kale is an excellent source of calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, and
chlorophyll

KOHLRABI
. Kohlrabi, which belongs to the cabbage family, is an excellent source
of vitamin C and potassium
. It is also high in fiber
. Kohlrabi helps to stabilize blood sugar and is therefore useful
hypoglycemia and diabetes
. It can also be effective against edema, candida and viral conditions

MUSTARD GREENS
. Mustard greens are an excellent anticancer vegetable
. They may also be beneficial for colds, arthritis or depression
. While mustard greens sold in the United States are relatively mild in
flavor, some mustard green varieties, especially those in Asia, can be
as hot as a jalapeno pepper depending on their mustard oil content

ONIONS
. Onions are an excellent antioxidant, and they contain anti-allergy,
antiviral and antihistamine properties.
. Sulfur compounds in onions help to detoxify the body.
. Onions aid in cellular repair.
. Onions are a rich source of quercetin, a potent antioxidant.
. To obtain the maximum nutritional benefits, onions should be eaten
raw or lightly steamed.

PARSLEY
. Parsley is useful as a digestive aid
. It helps to purify the blood and stimulate the bowels
. Parsley is an anticarcinogen
. It contains three times as much vitamin C as oranges, and twice as
much iron as spinach
. Parsley contains vitamin A and is a good source of copper and
manganese
. For a natural breath freshener, try a sprig of parsley!

PEANUT BUTTER
. When buying peanut butter, only buy organic varieties.
. Non-organic peanut butters are high in pesticides and fungus and
contain aflatoxin, a potent carcinogenic mold.
. To increase the protein in peanut butter (peanuts have about the same
amount of protein as soy), Brewer's ***** can be mixed in. This is
especially useful for vegetarians.

PEANUTS
. Peanuts contain beneficial protein, but many people are allergic to
them and find them hard to digest.
. They also contain aflatoxin, a carcinogenic, which may explain why
peanut farmers have been found to have disproportionately high rates of
cancer.
. Peanuts are high in fungus and, often, pesticides.
. They do not contain any omega-3, which can contribute to distorting
your omega-6mega-3 ratio.
. The peanut is actually a legume, not a nut (which is why they are
often roasted).
. Peanuts contain about the same amount of protein as soy and are low
in starchy carbohydrates.
. Did you know? George Washington Carver was largely responsible for
popularizing the peanut as a food in America.

PUMPKIN SEEDS
. Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, which is good for the prostate and
building the immune system.
. They also contain fatty acids that kill parasites.
. Raw pumpkin seeds contain essential fatty acids and beneficial
proteins.
. For maximum nutritional benefits, seeds should be eaten raw.
. Roasted seeds contain damaged fat that can lead to plaque in the
arteries.

RADISHES
. Radishes have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties
. They are a member of the cabbage family
. Radishes contain vitamin C, potassium and other trace minerals
. Grown in Egypt since at least 2780 B.C., radishes were originally
black

SWEET POTATO
. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of carotenoid antioxidants
. They contain calcium, are high in vitamins A and C and contain
thiamine
. Be careful: eating too many may cause abdominal swelling and
indigestion
. Sweet potatoes are also high in sugar and therefore should be used
sparingly
. Sweet potatoes are not related to the potato nor the yam--they are
actually a member of the morning glory family

TOMATOES
. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, flavonoids and other phytochemicals
with anticarcinogenic properties
. Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C (the vitamin C is most
concentrated in the jelly-like substance that surrounds the seeds)
. They also contain vitamin A and B-complex vitamins, potassium and
phosphorus
. A tomato grown in a hothouse has half the vitamin C content as a
vine-ripened tomato

ZUCCHINI (SUMMER SQUASH)
. Zucchini and other summer squash varieties contain vitamins A and C
. They also contain potassium and calcium
. The flavor of zucchini is best when it is less than six inches long
. Zucchinis can grow as large as baseball bats but have little flavor
when they reach this size